Do you read Profiles?
If you don't, you're missing out on some fun, like discovering that our terrific administrators are 14 and 18 years of age, and that the brilliant man who's in second place for Reputation reached his 10th birthday last November.
You can also discover that the site includes one of the world's oldest women; she turned 109 this past year, while miraculously escaping international fame.
I enjoy reading profiles, and from an admittedly cursory survey, I've discovered quite a few that include bits of amusing fiction like those above.
But every once in a while, I find pure gems in the "About Me" section.
Of those I've read so far, the richest and most compelling one is Chaparrito's beautifully written essay. He describes his passions for both learning and teaching in a way that is wise, moving, and inspirational.
Check Chaparrito out. His wonderful essay could be a model for us all.
Meanwhile, do you have a favorite "About Me?"
Or, other odd bits of amusing fiction to share?
19 Answers
I sometimes look at the profile of a person who posts intriguing (and even funny) comments or if their response is often "something I would have posted". 
Mainly, I just look at my own. Whenever I log on, I go straight to my profile page to see what I should work on that day...Flashcards, Lessons, Translations, etc...but I always browse thru the Answer section. There's a great amount to be learned here, as well (including revelations about my own abilities)! For instance...
I used to think I was at the "Intermediate" level (I can read it, write it, & fumble my way thru a conversation and be understood), but since posting on here, I've changed my mind on that. 
In fact, just today, I've changed my Spanish level from "Intermediate" to "Beginner". Is there anything, other than clueless, that comes before Beginner? If so, that's where you'll find me! 
Anyway...the profiles/comments I've read have been interesting. I've even noticed Your comments about the mountains (I'm a mountain girl at heart) 
and saw your Avatar photo of the the beautiful, pictureque scenery!
Love, Love, Love it! 
I like to know if I'm talking to a native Spanish speaker, or someone who's just starting to learn. Some folks like to mislead us, though. For example, Goyo's profile says he's a beginner. I think he's way beyond that. Maybe just false modesty?
My profile says I'm fluent. False pride?
It's a great help to read someone's profile.
I just sort of stumbled on this thread. I'm glad you enjoyed my profile info, Volpon. It was from the heart. So 'Thank You'. I'm blushing...
I appreciated bdclark's comment about taking a profile at face value. Anyone can say anything they want. Whereas 'wisdom is proved by its works'. On the other hand, anything in a profile, fiction or not, tells you something about the person. Seeing how it did come from that person it is therefore a piece to the puzzle that makes up that individual.
For example: my avatar. Am I a duck? No. That would be fiction. But why did I choose that duck? Well, that would be a piece of my puzzle. 
In a sense, the duck identifies me; and I with it.
And regarding Heidita's opinion: (and everyone is certainly entitled to her opinion 
)
I don't know why people don't put up their own picture....or their real birthdate....horrible!!
My picture? Frankly, I really don't like how I look; have always been camera shy (to the extreme). Also, I want people to form an opinion of me for who I am, and my mug-shot is only a very small part of that.
My birthdate? Well, now we're talking about personal privacy (ok, paranoia?), but that just isn't the kind of thing I toss around freely. But I'm not hiding anything to be deceitful. The year is correct. Sometime this year I will/did turn 38.
Thanks again Volpon for starting another very interesting and involving thread!
I believe you truly know a person for what they do, and not for what they say they are. So, I never look at a profile of a user right away, except for two conditions:
- If they’ve posted a question and I have doubts as whether they’re a student doing homework
- The user might possibly be a spamer
After reading a few postings, you normally tend to get to know someone by the way they respond and interact.
- It is most likely the amusing or unique postings that first pique my interest to look at someone’s profile, and I do appreciate the users who take the time to create a more descript one.
Yet, I prefer to consider the profile as something that only enhances the individual I’ve already seem to get to know.
- As far as mandatory fields on the profile, I can easily see why the site would require them
This information provides the demographics necessary to the sponsors of the site, but I don’t see how this information is relevant in the forum type environment, as we are all here on the same virtual level to learn, teach, share and grow.
However, as we share and grow, we do build our interpersonal relationships.
Plus, to get to know an individual better, of course, it’s very fun and interesting to find out where someone is from, what their background is, whether they could be your parents or your grandchildren, or whatever we want to share with others that have the same interests.
I still think and always thought the native language and native country of the member should be mandatory.
I really agree with this idea. They are the two biggest reasons I check profiles. The only other item I am usually interested in is their age, as this sometimes helps in how I would answer someone.
Of course I occasionally will become sidetracked and have found out many fascinating facts about people as I am checking their profiles.
I usually only read profiles of the people I've interacted with in threads or if I'm considering PMing them for specific info such as when I PM'd Marianne- about ICO.
@Heidita - Ok, just for you my profile pic is now an actual pic of me. Hope it doesn't scare too many people. 
It would be helpful to know someone´s country, native language, and age when evaluating posts. It can be difficult to differentiate between someone for whom Spanish or English may be a third language, a spammer, a teenager wanting someone to do their homework, and someone who is posting dumb comments for yuks. It also lends credibility to answers regarding culture and idioms.
Unfortunately, a lot of people don´t represent themselves honestly on the interent. Shocking, I know. Even so, I look at some profiles for the above reasons, but usually with a skeptical eye.
Or, other odd bits of amusing fiction to share?
I must confess to a bit of fiction in my profile. It states that I am from the southeast U.S. but actually I am from Mars - At least that's what my wife says.
I often read them in hopes of better understanding the person and why they ask or answer the way they do.
Especially in the case of vague questions asked, a profile with lots of information can really help me answer the person's question with something that will be helpful to them.
I agree with mandatory nationality and first language. It is enlightening to hear different perspectives on language and everyday subjects. What is most interesting is when I look and find out that the person posting is from another country than my own, and he or she is "muy amable, con mucha sabiduría.(Real nice and very smart.) It brings us closer across the boundries of distance. We all bring something to the site. Let's tell each other where we are from!
Sometimes I do, usually in response to a post that piques my interest for some reason.
I always read the profiles. They are interesting and informative (so long as they are real). You just have to trust your instincts sometimes. I really like to know what part of the world I'm communicating with, the internet has made it so much smaller. Today I pm'd a forer who lives in Ireland but is actually Spanish. Who would have guessed that. Five minutes ago I posted a comment to someone who I just learned lives less than 30 miles from me. You can't get that much from the profiles unless the person writes an essay but it's a good place to start. And if that's not enough, the pm tag is right there. But while we're on the subject of that page, what's up with the joined ondate? It seems rather inconsistant.
Alot of the times I can tell if someone is a native speaker by their basic name and how their spelling of Spanish is (no offense, but I work with natives interpreting and it's a real problem even amongst fairly educated native speakers, but I am referring to the US), and just quickly look at the picture and name. It would be nice to see a pix that reflects the real person, and I don't usually read the profile. The pix and name give me an idea of a possible perspective. My name is fairly English sounding, but I am actually filipina-american, and my native tongue contains alot of Spanish, but I have a formal education. I may redo my profile... Actually I just went into Heidita's because of this post, and was wondering about the woman kneeling at the foot of a man...Were you serious? Sorry, but I have an amazing romance with my childeren's father who is drop dead gorgeous, and I found it to be almost funny, but that's an American perspective. So is machismo alive and well in Spain or what....? Even if it were, do woman really dig it? I just thought it was a unique thing to come out of a woman's mouth...
...Sí, volpon, leo los profiles... a veces, especialemente para saber a quién me estoy refiriendo y su nivel de español por sobre todas las cosas.
Con respecto al otro tema... Personalmente no entiendo por qué la gente se oculta o miente. ¿Será que vivir en el anonimato los hará sentirse más importantes?... a mi no me parece divertido, ya que yo no soy así... pero Internet da para todo y las reglas del juego son así... take it or leave it ...
I still think and always thought the native language and native country of the member should be mandatory. I have suggested this many times, with no success. 
I don't know why people don't put up their own picture....or their real birthdate....horrible!! 
